DNA
The Sixth Form studio production was a captivating and energetic portrayal of group dynamics, guilt and moral ambiguity.
DNA by Dennis Kelly follows a group of teenagers grappling with the consequences of accidentally killing a classmate. When their first idea of framing someone else is taken too far, and then they find out the friend they thought they killed had just been hiding in the woods, the group go further than they would have imagined to not get caught.
The rehearsal process started in the Summer term of 2024, but due to half of the cast taking their GSCEs, these rehearsals focused on experimenting with the text, allowing the actors time to develop nuanced characters. The cast also experimented with which stage configuration would work best for the piece and brainstormed ideas for the costumes and set. The Michaelmas term was when the rehearsal schedule intensified; with only a few weeks until the performance, the group worked hard to refine each scene. Overall, the collaborative and creative rehearsal process led to an engaging performance.
In the performances, the cast worked seamlessly together, bringing the dark themes to life with precision, depth and occasional comic relief. The in-the-round staging, combined soundtrack and clever lighting through streetlamps drew the audience into the very heart of the drama. The immersive setting heightened the intensity, making us feel surrounded by the characters’ spiralling emotions.
Eva Vesela and Greta Wood had great stage presence, balancing each other perfectly and creating moments of comic relief and
tension that added layers to the drama. Ruby Thomas, with her lengthy monologues, delivered each line with an impressive pace and commanding presence, while Georgie Williams’ s powerful but silent performance was phenomenal, her constant reactions making her a magnetic presence on stage. Kaja Ganeshalingam’ s authoritative role felt entirely natural, and her subtle, realistic approach gave the production a grounded feel.
Daniel Fielding and Aaryan Khanna displayed excellent chemistry with all cast members, bouncing lines back and forth without missing a beat, which helped keep the play’ s rapid pace intact. Krish Misra’ s character stood out particularly in his closing monologue, where his range of emotions brought the audience into his inner turmoil. Collie Begg embodied Cathy perfectly, using physicality and a deep understanding of the text to portray the character’ s unsettling nature. James Ellershaw gave an exceptional portrayal of Brian, clearly showing his character’ s deterioration through nuanced facial expressions. Lastly, Lawrence Lingard’ s disturbingly believable portrayal of The Boy was a chilling addition, rounding off the cast with intensity.
The ensemble’ s synergy, deep understanding of the text and clever use of stage space made DNA a gripping, unforgettable performance.
Ruby Thomas, Lower Sixth, and Eleanor Willis
42 DRAMA REVIEW